Aluminum receptacle with threaded outsert

Abstract

An aluminum container is comprised of a base portion, a substantially vertical wall portion extending upwardly from the base portion, a transition portion extending from the wall portion, and a neck portion extending from the transition portion. The neck portion is tapered and has an upper end having a wall thickness that is preferably less than the thickness of the wall of the remainder of the neck portion. The upper end of the neck portion may also be chamfered. The aluminum container of the present invention may be combined with a threaded sleeve to form a receptacle. The sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface has threads thereon and the inner surface has a taper complementary to the taper of the neck portion so as to form a friction fit with the neck portion. The sleeve may also have a notch formed in the periphery of its upper outside surface. When the upper chamfered end of the neck is curled, the neck portion extends over a top end portion of the sleeve and terminates in the notch in the sleeve. Methods of manufacturing such a container are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aluminum container, comprising: 
 a base portion;    a substantially vertical wall portion extending upwardly from said base portion;    a transition portion extending from said wall portion; and    a neck portion extending from said transition portion, said neck portion being tapered with respect to the wall portion.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said taper of the neck portion is approximately one degree.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of pure aluminum.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of an aluminum alloy.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said transition portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of a taper, oval, round, flat and ergonomic.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of said wall portion is approximately 0.7 mm.  
     
     
         7 . An aluminum container, comprising: 
 a base portion;    a substantially vertical wall portion extending upwardly from said base portion;    a transition portion extending from said wall portion; and    a neck portion extending from said transition portion, said neck portion having a tapered outside diameter, said neck portion having an upper end having a wall thickness that is less than the thickness of the wall of the remainder of the neck portion, said upper end of said neck portion being chamfered.    
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said taper of the neck portion is approximately one degree and the chamfer is approximately 45 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of pure aluminum.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of an aluminum alloy.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said transition portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of a taper, oval, round, flat and ergonomic.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of said wall portion is approximately 0.7 mm.  
     
     
         13 . An aluminum receptacle, comprising: 
 an aluminum container having a base portion, a substantially vertical wall portion extending upwardly from said base portion, a transition portion extending from said wall portion, and a neck portion extending from said transition portion, said neck portion being tapered; and    a sleeve carried on said neck portion, said sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface having threads thereon and said inner surface being tapered so as to form a friction fit with said neck portion,    said neck portion terminating in a curled edge extending over at least a portion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         14 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein said taper of the neck portion is approximately one degree.  
     
     
         15 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of pure aluminum.  
     
     
         16 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of an aluminum alloy.  
     
     
         17 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein said transition portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of a taper, oval, round, flat and ergonomic.  
     
     
         18 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the thickness of said wall portion is approximately 0.7 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein said receptacle is approximately 70 to 260 mm in height and approximately 35 to 66 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         20 . The receptacle of  claim 13  additionally comprising a cap having threads for engaging the threads of said sleeve, and wherein said cap carries a tamper seal at a bottom portion thereof, said tamper seal connected to said cap by a plurality of break away members.  
     
     
         21 . An aluminum receptacle, comprising: 
 an aluminum container having a base portion, a substantially vertical wall portion extending upwardly from said base portion, a transition portion extending from said wall portion, and a neck portion extending from said transition portion, said neck portion having a tapered outside diameter; and    a sleeve carried on said neck portion, said sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface having threads thereon and said inner surface being tapered so as to form a friction fit with said neck portion, said sleeve having a notch form in the periphery of its upper outside surface,    said neck portion terminating in a curled edge extending over a top end portion of the sleeve and terminating in said notch in said sleeve.    
     
     
         22 . The receptacle of  claim 21  wherein said taper of the neck portion is approximately one degree.  
     
     
         23 . The receptacle of  claim 21  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of pure aluminum.  
     
     
         24 . The receptacle of  claim 21  wherein said aluminum container is comprised of an aluminum alloy.  
     
     
         25 . The receptacle of  claim 21  wherein said transition portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of a taper, oval, round, flat and ergonomic.  
     
     
         26 . The receptacle of  claim 21  wherein the thickness of said wall portion is approximately 0.7 mm.  
     
     
         27 . The receptacle of  claim 21  wherein said receptacle is approximately 70 to 260 mm in height and approximately 35 to 66 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         28 . The receptacle of  claim 21  additionally comprising a cap having threads for engaging the threads of said sleeve, and wherein said cap carries a tamper seal at a bottom portion thereof, said tamper seal connected to said cap by a plurality of break away members.  
     
     
         29 . A method of affixing a sleeve to the neck of an aluminum container of the type having a tapered neck and wherein said sleeve has a complementary taper, said method comprising: 
 positioning said sleeve onto said neck such that a portion of the neck extends beyond said sleeve;    curling the portion of the neck extending beyond the sleeve so that the curl covers at least a portion of the upper end of said sleeve, said curling step causing said sleeve to seat on the neck so as to form a friction fit therewith.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the portion of the neck extending beyond the sleeve is approximately 2-3 mm in length.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  additionally comprising the step of decreasing the thickness of at least a portion of that portion of the neck extending beyond said sleeve.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  additionally comprising the step of chamfering the upper edge of the neck.  
     
     
         33 . A method of affixing a sleeve to the neck of an aluminum container of the type having a tapered neck and wherein said sleeve has a complementary taper and a notch formed in the periphery of its upper outside surface, said method comprising: 
 positioning said sleeve onto said neck such that a portion of the neck extends beyond said sleeve;    curling the portion of the neck extending beyond the sleeve so that the curl covers the top edge of said sleeve and terminates in said notch in said sleeve.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the portion of the neck extending beyond the sleeve is approximately 2-3 mm in length.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  additionally comprising the step of decreasing the thickness of at least a portion of that portion of the neck extending beyond said sleeve.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  additionally comprising the step of chamfering the upper edge of the neck.